Monarch caterpillars need milkweed host plants, but did you also know that the newly-hatched butterflies need high quality and abundant nectar sources? Many other butterflies, moths and pollinators will benefit as well.
Bob Allen has produced a handy chart of year-round nectar source plants for Southern California. Use this as your planting guide, and perhaps we can all help the monarch population to rebound from historic lows.
Bob Allen is coordinating between the Xerces Society monarch project and the California Native Plant Society, Orange County Chapter to study milkweeds, butterflies and to promote practices that will improve their chances of survival. Thank you, Bob!